“How you had to check it at the door?” Morpheus asked. “Yeah. So?”
“Check it at the door?” Athena asked.
“The Mirror held my magic in its glass when I passed through,” I explained. “While inside it, I couldn't access any of my god magic. It was created to imprison a god and bind his magic so when I passed through, it did what it was created to and grabbed my god magic. I didn't get my magic back until after I destroyed it.”
“What does that have to do with this?” Hermes asked.
“I was wondering if magic held in check might create the same sensation that Athena is describing,” I said.
Athena blinked and then looked at the others. “Perhaps. But the Mirror is destroyed, correct?”
“Yes, but Narcissus and the Mirror shred things,” I said thoughtfully. “We were just discussing the possibility that the Mirror had taught Narcissus things he'd learned from consuming humans and possibly from delving into the minds of my husbands and me.”
“Is that something that can be taught?” Hermes asked. “How to hold onto a god's magic?”
“I don't know.” I shook my head. “I would have said no a few months ago, but then we had the problem with those Argentinians.”
“That was bananas,” Donnie said. “You're right, V-Lady, anything is possible.”
“This has got to be Narcissus,” Trevor said. “It's all too coincidental with the timing and the particular gods involved.”
“We just tried to get into Narcissus' new territory through his father's,” Morpheus added. “There isn't a way in.”
“What do you mean?” Athena scowled. “There has to be a way in. He would need it for himself if no one else.”
“We think that Narcissus may have locked himself in,” I said.
“Locked himself in?” Donnie repeated. “Dude, that's nutso. Who would do that shit?”
“Someone who has been imprisoned for a really fucking long time,” Hermes said pensively.
“That's what I said,” I agreed.
“So, how do we bust through a bogus border like that?” Donnie asked.
“I think you're all forgetting something,” Odin said.
Every eye turned toward him.
“If Narcissus has sealed himself away, he couldn't possibly be the one abducting Gods.”
We all sat back and pondered that.
“But if he is doing this,” Odin went on. “Then there must be a way into his territory.”
“We just need to find it,” Athena said.
“Or make him show it to us,” Kirill suggested.
“You want one of us to be bait.” Hermes grimaced at Kirill.
Kirill shrugged. “If you can't track animal, you set trap and make it come to you.”
“There are only six of us originals left,” Athena pointed out. “How do we determine which one he'll come for next?”
“Setting a trap is about making it alluring,” Trevor noted. “Does anyone have an idea of who Narcissus hates the most out of you five? Which of you have wronged him personally?”
They looked at each other and shrugged.
“Honestly, none of us had much to do with Narcissus,” Apollo said. “I, especially, didn't like him but it wasn't personal.”
“Let me guess; it was because Narcissus thought he was more attractive than you?” I asked with a smirk.
“He was obviously deluded,” Apollo huffed.
“It's him.” I pointed at Apollo. “Narcissus will go for Apollo next.”
“What?” Apollo gaped at me. “Why?”
“For the same reason you'd go after him,” Athena said as she nodded. “Vanity; you both have it in droves.”
“And humans always associate vanity with women,” Artemis huffed. “When a man is vain, he's so much worse than any woman could be.”
“Thanks a lot, Sis,” Apollo grumbled.
“Just calling it as I see it, Bro,” she shot back. Then Artie got serious. “And I think they're right, Ap. We need to get some security on you.”
“What we need to do is figure out a way to follow Narcissus into his territory when he comes for Apollo,” I said. “If we catch him, we could try to force him to take us in, but it may not work. He's tricky. It would be better if we could follow him home.”
The Gods began to murmur among themselves. I just waited. I was still learning a lot of god stuff, despite my years among them, and I didn't have a clue on how to piggyback into a god territory. At least, not without physically holding onto the piggy.
“We need a leash,” Donnie said.
“Like with a dog?” Apollo asked.
“Like with a board, dude.” Donnie rolled his eyes. “Your leash ties you to your board so even if you go over the falls, you don't lose it, comprende? You might end up tombstoning, with your board bobbing up and you dangling in the drink, but you ain't gonna lose your stick.”
“Does anyone know what he just said?” Hermes asked.
“We need a way to tie ourselves to Narcissus,” I explained. “Then he'll pull us through even if he tries to shake us loose. But how?”
“He's one of ours,” Athena said with a grin. “I can leash him. I just need to get close enough to grab him.”
“Akaw!” Donnie cheered.
Chapter Thirty-Six
To lay the trap for Narcissus, Apollo stayed on Mount Olympus. He was going to lounge around on the lower level with his sister and Torrent while Athena hid nearby with several other Greek gods. Olympus was open to all Greeks so Narcissus would be able to enter the territory without a problem, but Apollo would still be protected. It sounded perfect, and I was more than happy to leave it in their capable hands.
I went home with my husbands and had a relaxing evening with my daughter, my men, and my cat. We turned the TV toward the bed and sprawled out together while we watched a movie; Bird Box. Oh, so many great quotes and so many questions.
“What the hell?” Trevor huffed as I clicked off the TV.
Lesya was fast asleep, curled in against her father's chest. Her hair trailed behind her in a mass of dark curls. I started to braid it for bed as I lifted a brow at Trevor.
“Seriously?” Trevor asked. “That girl was supposed to be named Ariel. Or even Cinderella.
